View allAll Photos Tagged Ngorongoroconservationarea
"Difficult to say with all the disasters that are currently happening politically and ecologically on our planet" :-((
Have a peaceful Caturday anyway ...
with this cheetah portrait / Gepard (Acinonyx jubatus)
taken in Ndutu Area, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tanzania, Africa
The Augur Buzzard (Buteo augur) is an African bird of prey. It is common in open land and cultivated areas, above 1000 metres of elevation. This is a large buzzard with short, rounded tail and broad wings, with very broad secondaries. It is often seen perched in open, on rocks, mounds or trees. This species exhibits two different plumages, with dark and normal morphs.
The Augur Buzzard feeds mainly on reptiles (lizards and snakes), rodents and mole-rats, small birds, insects and carrion.
It hunts from perch, rock or tree, where it spends much time while waiting for preys. But it also hunts on the wing by soaring, hovering or gliding. It descends slowly on the prey once detected. It may hunt by walking or hopping on the ground.
It hunts in forest or woodland, but also in more open areas.
This lovely pair of Augur Buzzard's got lucky and were busy feeding together. Photographed on a game drive inside Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania.
Mama takes an afternoon snooze as her young cub prepares to join her. It's an average midday during the dry season here in the Serengeti but the weather has been anything but average. The sky is grey and storms have been coming early this year. It means that food is plentiful and days are cooler than normal. Despite this, life for a lion cub is not as easy as it seems. Lions usually have several cubs to a litter but this is the only cub this mother has. It means that she has likely lost at least one, if not more of her cubs. Despite their cuteness factor and powerful females to protect them, less than half of all lion cubs will survive their first year. For now junior is safely surrounded by at least 4 females that will protect him and so it's a good time to join in what seems to be the family inactivity for the afternoon. Maybe I'll do the same!
#iLoveNature #iLoveWildlife #WildlifePhotography in #Tanzania #Nature in #Africa #Serengeti #Lions #Lioncubs #DrDADBooks #Canon #WildlifeConservation
... towards the weekend - TGIF !
Plum Dung Beetle (Anachalcos convexus) with a dung ball
Ndutu Area, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tanzania, Africa
Olduvai Gorge
Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Tanzania
East Africa
The bird was photographed outdoors at the Olduvai Gorge Museum located in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area in Northern Tanzania on the edge of the Olduvai Gorge. It is a museum dedicated to the appreciation and understanding of the Olduvai Gorge and Laetoli fossil sites. Evidently a new museum was opened in 2018.
The common bulbul (Pycnonotus barbatus) is a member of the bulbul family of passerine birds. It is found in north-eastern, northern, western and central Africa.
The bill is fairly short and thin, with a slightly down curving upper mandible. The bill, legs, and feet are black and the eye is dark brown with a dark eye-ring, which is not readily visible. It is about 18 cm in length, with a long tail. It has a dark brown head and upperparts. Sexes are similar in plumage.
It is a common resident breeder in much of Africa, and it has recently been found breeding in southern Spain at Tarifa. It is found in woodland, coastal bush, forest edges, riverine bush, montane scrub, and in mixed farming habitats. It is also found in exotic thickets, gardens, and parks.
The common bulbul is usually seen in pairs or small groups. It is a conspicuous bird, which tends to sit at the top of a bush. As with other bulbuls they are active and noisy birds. The flight is bouncing and woodpecker-like. The call is a loud doctor-quick doctor-quick be-quick be-quick. - Wikipedia
Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
Il lago in cui abbiamo effettuato il nostro picnic.
Pranzo in compagnia degli ippopotami che affioravano per respirare e una moltitudine di uccelli in attesa di qualche cosa da mangiare.
Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
The lake where we had our picnic.
Lunch in the company of hippos that surfaced to breathe and a multitude of birds waiting for something to eat.
IMG20241206121539m
and 'dotted dreams' of this Cheetah mum / Gepard (Acinonyx jubatus) resting with her grown up cubs in the shadow
in Ndutu Area, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tanzania, Africa
There are only about 7,000 cheetahs left in the wild, making the cheetah Africa’s most endangered big cat!
Let’s promise to take care of the wild and be champions for those who can’t speak for themselves. The race is on, not just for the cheetah but for the future of our planet.
Will we be quick enough to ensure a future where these amazing cats keep racing across the Savannah, or will we let the sound of their footsteps fade away into silence?
It is up to us, and the time to decide is now!!!
Whether this will be achieved with the presidency of a top oil manager at COP28 ...
that sounds so absurd that I no longer believe it
as this means to 'set a fox keep the geese' !-((
More facts and information on internationalcheetahday.com!
Warthog near the water in the Ngorongoro crater, Tanzania
Explore February 3, 2021. Highest position #122. Thanks for all of the views and faves! 10,000 views and 320+ faves in 3 days
This is a look back at our 2018 safari. More photos from this amazing trip can be seen in my Safari Album www.flickr.com/photos/25171569@N02/albums/72157669809103977
iNaturalist link www.inaturalist.org/photos/111850976
Jenny Pansing Photos
Ndutu, Tanzania
All rights reserved. Thomas Retterath 2013
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safaritalk.net/topic/10409-where-is-matiti-now-a-trip-to-...
... by mum and a thick layer of mud!
Mud-crusted African Elephant mum and her baby / Afrikanische Elefanten (Loxodonta africana)
Ndutu Area, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tanzania, Africa
The spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta), also known as the laughing hyena, is a hyena species, currently classed as the sole extant member of the genus Crocuta, native to sub-Saharan Africa.
The spotted hyena is a highly successful animal, being the most common large carnivore in Africa. Its success is due in part to its adaptability and opportunism; it is primarily a hunter but may also scavenge, with the capacity to eat and digest skin, bone and other animal waste. In functional terms, the spotted hyena makes the most efficient use of animal matter of all African carnivores. The spotted hyena displays greater plasticity in its hunting and foraging behaviour than other African carnivores; it hunts alone, in small parties of 2-5 individuals or in large groups. During a hunt, spotted hyenas often run through ungulate herds in order to select an individual to attack. Once selected, their prey is chased over a long distance, often several kilometres, at speeds of up to 60 km/h.
This lovely couple was captured mating during a photography safari in the shallow swamps of Lake Ndutu in Ndutu Conservation Area, Tanzania.
Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
Elefanti nella pianura interna del cratere Ngorongoro.
La proboscide, la mano degli elefanti.
Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
Elephants in the inner plain of the Ngorongoro Crater.
The trunk, the hand of the elephants.
IMG_9378m
Common and widespread, the Tawny Eagle (Aquila rapax) is a relatively large, handsome bird of prey, with heavily feathered legs. The plumage is generally tawny to rusty brown in colour, often with dark markings on the wings, especially the flight-feathers.
Tawny Eagles are endothermic which means they absorb energy from the surrounding heat. Tawny Eagles are homoiothermic which refers to birds and mammals having constant and relatively high body temperature.
They eat a range of prey, including mammals, birds, reptiles, insects, amphibians, fish, and carrion, usually weighing from 126 g to 2.0 kg. In Kenya, they will often hunt francolins, hares, and bustards, and will even go after Madoqua kirkii (Kirk’s dikdik) which can weigh more than twice that of a Tawny Eagle. Most of their prey is taken on the ground, but they sometimes kill birds up to the size of flamingos in flight. They hunt with short dives and swoops, sometimes pouncing down from a perch. They are also kleptoparasites, stealing food from birds such as raptors, storks, and ground hornbills by pursuing the other bird until it is forced to land or drop its prey.
This lovely Tawny Eagle was captured during a Photography Safari on an early morning game drive in the Ndutu Plains of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tanzania.
It was ostrich mating season so a male and female were in their courtship ritual.
Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tanzania
... by all the exaggerated commercial hustle and bustle around Christmas
and simply hoping for a Peaceful Caturday :-))
Male lion / Löwe (Panthera leo)
Ndutu and Masek Lake Area, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tanzania, Africa
Lions are not natural tree climbers, but they are sometimes found up trees with large more horizontal branches. This young lion with a stuffed belly was sitting comfortably on a large branch in a blooming acacia tree. I liked the direct eye contact. Ndutu, Tanzania.
13/08/2025 www.allenfotowild.com
The Lanner Falcon (Falco biarmicus) is a medium-sized bird of prey that breeds in Africa, southeast Europe and just into Asia. It prefers open habitat and is mainly resident, but some birds disperse more widely after the breeding season. A large falcon, it preys on birds and bats.
Falcons (from latin falco, falconis, who has nails in the shape of a scythe) are small birds of prey. Beak is short and bended from the base.
Lanner falcons have a similar size to the Peregrine Falcon, but have a paler coloration.
Their tail is longer and their wings are less pointed. Their appearance is svelter and they fly with a less powerful wings beat. Head cap looks like a reddish hood and forehead is white. A slim black moustache appears across the cheeks, just under the dark iris. Orbital circle is pale. Beak is greyish blue. Back is uniformly slate grey, showing little contrast with their rather pale belly. This one has a dominant creamy white or reddish color.
This beautiful Lanner Falcon is a lifer and was captured during a Photography Safari on an early morning game drive in the Ndutu Plains of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tanzania.
... for the weekend - Happy Caturday!
Lions / Löwen (Panthera leo) at a little water hole in the plains of Ndutu Area, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tanzania, Africa
The Grant's Gazelle (Nanger granti, syn. Gazella granti) is a species of gazelle distributed in East Africa.
Grant’s gazelles live in standard territorial, male-led herds. In more closed habitats, the herds tend to be smaller and more sexually segregated. Male gazelles have developed several ritualized postures to determine dominance. Younger males will fight, but as they grow older, the ritualized displays often take the place of fights. If neither combatant is intimidated, then they may confront one another and clash horns trying to throw the other off-balance.
This very handsome Grant's Gazelles was photographed during a Photography Safari on a late evening game drive inside the Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania.
Cape buffaloes mingle with zebras in the rich grass of Ngorongoro Crater in northern Tanzania. Cattle egrets and tick birds compete for nutritious real estate on the buffaloes' backs. ©2019 John M. Hudson | jmhudson1.com
Another shot of a young lion with a full belly up a tree in the Ndutu, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, of Tanzania (vertical format). Apparently climbing trees is a learned behaviour in lions and only occurs in a very few areas of Africa. Ndutu is not far from Manyara, which is famous for its tree-climbing lions. Maybe the Ndutu lions are related to the Manyara lions.
14/08/2025 www.allenfotowild.com
Lions are believed to climb trees as a behavioral adaptation to protecting themselves from the constant irritation of insect bites while lazing on the ground under trees. Some animal behaviorists claim that these lions have perfected the art of climbing trees as a way of escaping the sweltering heat on ground level. This way, they can enjoy a cool breeze and blissful nap without worrying about the happenings on the ground. Moreover, this position is an excellent vantage point from which to observe the movement of prey as they cross the plains in search of grazing opportunities and water.
While lions are not physically adapted to climbing trees, these distinct groups have been able to master this skill over time and teach their young to do the same; a great example of learned behaviour as opposed to natural instinct.
The Queen of Ndutu was photographed during a photography safari on a late evening game drive in the Ndutu Plains of Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tanzania
This bird is large - about four feet tall! I never managed to get the entire bird in frame (lol - long lens problems!). It is one of the heaviest animals capable of flight.
A large group of lesser flamingos gather together and are reflected in the waters of saline Ndutu Lake in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tanzania. Both greater and lesser flamingos live on the lake. The lesser flamingos are smaller, pinker and have large dark red/black beaks, which makes them easily distinguishable from the greater flamingos (best larger).
20/08/2025 www.allenfotowild.com
The Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus) is an easily identifiable, colourful wading bird and is often found flocking together with the Lesser Flamingo in the great salt lakes across Africa.
Their feathers are pinkish/white, the wing coverts are red and the primary and secondary flight feathers are black. They have long pink bills with a black tip, yellow eyes and long pink legs. Greater Flamingos are omnivores and filter-feeders. Flamingos mainly feed during the day and use their long legs and webbed feet to stir up the bottom of the water where they then sweep their bills upside down through the water. A flamingo’s bill has a filter-like structure to remove food from the water before the liquid is drained.
Water is sucked in through the partly opened bill. As it is squeezed out again by the tongue, a row of spines or lamellae along the edge of the bill filter out the tasty morsels within. They usually feed with their head fully immersed in the water and they can remain that way for up to 20 seconds. Flamingos pump their tongues up and down, 5 - 6 times per second, pushing the water out of their beak.
When flamingos flock together, they are referred to as a ‘colony’ or a ‘stand’.
This beautiful Flamingo was captured during a photography safari on an early morning game drive in the Ndutu Plains of Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tanzania.
Are zebras black with white stripes, or white with black stripes?
This confounding question actually has a surprising answer! It was originally believed that zebras were white underneath with black striping, due to some types of zebras having white underbellies. However, recent evidence confirms they start out black, and the white coloration develops early, while the baby zebra is still in its mother’s womb.
10 things you probably didn't know about zebras ...
Group picture of Plains Zebras / Steppenzebras (Equus quagga)
Ndutu Area, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tanzania, Africa
The village weaver (Ploceus cucullatus), also known as the spotted-backed weaver or black-headed weaver, is a species of bird in the family Ploceidae found in much of sub-Saharan Africa.
This often abundant species occurs in a wide range of open or semi-open habitats, including woodlands and human habitation, and frequently forms large noisy colonies in towns, villages and hotel grounds. This weaver builds a large coarsely woven nest made of grass and leaf strips with a downward facing entrance which is suspended from a branch in a tree. Village weavers are colonial breeders, so many nests may hang from one tree.
Village weavers feed principally on seeds and grain, and can be a crop pest, but it will readily take insects, especially when feeding young, which partially redresses the damage to agriculture.
This beautiful Weaver sitting on an Acacia Thorn Tree was captured during a photography safari on an early morning game drive in the Ndutu Plains of Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tanzania.
When all the flamingos in a flamboyance take off flying at the same time it's a spectacular show of action and colour, but a challenge to photograph. I got to practice this with the lesser flamingos earlier this year at Ndutu Lake in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tanzania. Getting a shot required a fast shutter speed (1/2500 sec) and high depth of field (f11) using my Nikon D850 at 440 mm.
27/08/2025 www.allenfotowild.com
The steel-blue whydah (Vidua hypocherina) is a species of bird in the family Viduidae. Also known as the Steel-blue Widow, Steel blue Whydah, Steely-blue Pin-tailed Whydah.
It is found in Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda.
Its natural habitat is dry savannah plains.
This beautiful Steel-blue Whydah is a lifer and was photographed during a photography safari on an early morning game drive in the Ndutu Plains of Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tanzania.
Featured on Flickr Explore #394 on 2021-07-08
The violet-backed starling (Cinnyricinclus leucogaster), also known as the plum-coloured starling or amethyst starling, is a relatively small species (17 cm) of starling in the family Sturnidae. It is the only member of the genus Cinnyricinclus. This strongly sexually dimorphic species is found widely in the woodlands and savannah forest edges of mainland sub-Saharan Africa. It is rarely seen on the ground, but instead found in trees and other locations away from the ground.
The diet of the violet-backed starling includes fruits, seeds and arthropods. It sometimes hawks for insects in a manner similar to flycatchers. It largely feeds in the canopy, seldom foraging on the ground.
This beautiful Starling was captured during a photography safari on a game drive inside Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania.